Cleaning Fiber-Optic Array Components with the Dry Cloth Cleaning Tool

Note: This procedure is required only for TX Matrix Plus components and T1600 routers in a routing matrix. It is not required for fiber-optic ports on the PICs.

As part of your routine maintenance, we recommend that you clean all exposed fiber-optic array components each time you disconnect and reconnect a fiber-optic array cable, or if the optical link is not functioning correctly.

Note: While you install the router or replace a fiber-optic array cable, small deposits of oil, dust, and debris can enter the fiber-optic array ports, the fiber-optic array cable connectors, and the loopback connectors and adapters used to test the optical connections. These deposits can cause loss of light, reducing signal power and causing intermittent problems with the optical connection.

• Dry cleaning tool (see Figure 1). This tool uses a dry cloth to remove dust and oil from the fiber optics.
• Cleaning tool adapter
• Cleaning tool connector

Figure 1: Cleaning Tool

1. Take the TX Matrix Plus switching plane offline.

   See the TX Matrix Plus Router Hardware Guide .

2. Bring the TXP-F13 SIB offline by pressing the SFC ONLINE/OFFLINE button.
3. Bring the TXP-T1600 SIB offline by pressing the ONLINE/OFFLINE button.
4. Disconnect the fiber-optic array cable between the TXP-F13 SIB and TXP-T1600 SIB.

   Warning: Do not look directly into a fiber-optic array port or a connector at the end of a fiber-optic array cable connected to a port. The fiber optics emit laser light that can damage your eyes.

5. Attach an electrostatic discharge (ESD) grounding strap to your bare wrist, and connect the strap to one of the ESD points on the chassis.
6. Remove the dust cap from the fiber-optic array port. Open the dust shutter on the fiber-optic array port, and insert a cleaning adapter (see Figure 2).
7. Remove the dust cap from the cleaning tool.
8. Insert the tip of the dry cloth cleaning tool into the cleaning adapter (see Figure 2).

   Figure 2: Inserting the Cleaning Adapter into the Fiber-Optic Array Port and the Cleaning Tip into the Keyed Slot of the Cleaning Adapter

   

   Note: This illustration shows TXP-F13 SIBs on a TX Matrix Plus router. However, the method for inserting the cleaning tool adapter and cleaning tool is the same for the TXP-T1600 SIB.

   Note: The cleaning adapter is keyed to ensure that the cleaning tip can be inserted in only one way.

9. Rotate the thumb wheel in the direction indicated on the cleaning tool until the thumb wheel clicks to indicate a completed cleaning action (see Figure 3).

   Figure 3: Rotating the Thumb Wheel

   
10. Clean the three visible ferrules in the fiber-optic array port.
11. Repeat these steps for all fiber-optic components that require cleaning.
12. Remove the dust cap from the fiber-optic array cable. Insert a cleaning connector into the fiber-optic array cable (see Figure 4). Insert the tip of the cleaning tool into the cleaning connector.

    Figure 4: Inserting the Cleaning Connector into the Fiber-Optic Array Cable and the Cleaning Tip into the Keyed Slot of the Cleaning Connector

    
13. Replace the dust cap on the cleaning tool.
14. After you clean the fiber-optic array ports and the fiber-optic array cable connectors, reconnect the fiber-optic array cable between the TXP-F13 SIB fiber-optic array port and TXP-T1600 SIB fiber-optic array port.
15. Bring the TXP-F13 SIB and TXP-1600 SIB online.
16. Issue the show chassis sibs command. Verify that the TXP-F13 SIB and TXP-T1600 SIB are online.
17. Issue the show chassis fabric plane extensive command. Verify that the state of each optical link is Links ok.
18. If the state of any TXP-F13 SIB, TXP-T1600 SIB, or link is still incorrect, contact your customer support representative for additional instructions.